ClimApp—Integrating Personal Factors with Weather Forecasts for Individualised Warning and Guidance on Thermal Stress

B. R. M. Kingma, H. Steenhoff, J. Toftum, H. A. M. Daanen, M. A. Folkerts, N. Gerrett, C. Gao, K. Kuklane, J. Petersson, A. Halder, M. Zuurbier, S. W. Garland and L. Nybo
Additional contact information
B. R. M. Kingma: Section for Integrative Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
H. Steenhoff: International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy, Department of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Building 402, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark
J. Toftum: International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy, Department of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Building 402, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark
H. A. M. Daanen: Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behaviour and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Van der Boechorststraat 7-9, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
M. A. Folkerts: Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behaviour and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Van der Boechorststraat 7-9, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
N. Gerrett: Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behaviour and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Van der Boechorststraat 7-9, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
C. Gao: Thermal Environment Laboratory, Department of Design Sciences, Division of Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Faculty of Engineering (LTH), Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
K. Kuklane: Thermal Environment Laboratory, Department of Design Sciences, Division of Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Faculty of Engineering (LTH), Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
J. Petersson: Thermal Environment Laboratory, Department of Design Sciences, Division of Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Faculty of Engineering (LTH), Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
A. Halder: Thermal Environment Laboratory, Department of Design Sciences, Division of Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Faculty of Engineering (LTH), Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
M. Zuurbier: Public Health Services Gelderland Midden, 6828 HZ Arnhem, The Netherlands
S. W. Garland: FritzdorfSport, 218 51 Klagshamn, Sweden
L. Nybo: Section for Integrative Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-26

Abstract: This paper describes the functional development of the ClimApp tool (available for free on iOS and Android devices), which combines current and 24 h weather forecasting with individual information to offer personalised guidance related to thermal exposure. Heat and cold stress assessments are based on ISO standards and thermal models where environmental settings and personal factors are integrated into the ClimApp index ranging from ?4 (extremely cold) to +4 (extremely hot), while a range of ?1 and +1 signifies low thermal stress. Advice for individuals or for groups is available, and the user can customise the model input according to their personal situation, including activity level, clothing, body characteristics, heat acclimatisation, indoor or outdoor situation, and geographical location. ClimApp output consists of a weather summary, a brief assessment of the thermal situation, and a thermal stress warning. Advice is provided via infographics and text depending on the user profile. ClimApp is available in 10 languages: English, Danish, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Hellenic (Greek), Italian, German, Spanish and French. The tool also includes a research functionality providing a platform for worker and citizen science projects to collect individual data on physical thermal strain and the experienced thermal strain. The application may therefore improve the translation of heat and cold risk assessments and guidance for subpopulations. ClimApp provides the framework for personalising and downscaling weather reports, alerts and advice at the personal level, based on GPS location and adjustable input of individual factors.

Keywords: heat assessment; cold assessment; mobile application; human thermal models (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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